Administrative Investigation, Use of Government Funds, Travel, Personnel, Impartiality, and Management Issues, Research and Development Office, Veterans Health Administration

We substantiated that Dr. Wray and certain members of her staff, between January and October 2003, improperly spent nearly $1.7 million provided to VA primarily by pharmaceutical companies. The funds were maintained and administered by Friends Research Institute, Inc., a private nonprofit corporation. The pharmaceutical companies provided these funds for VA’s use in conducting specific cooperative research studies, but the money was used for purposes unrelated to the projects specified. The spending constituted an illegal augmentation of the Department’s appropriations and a misuse of her position. The improper purchases should have been paid for either from appropriated funds or personally by the Research and Development Office staff.